Handkerchief holder



June 9, 1964 P. B. STEPHENS 3,135,967

HANDKERCHIEF HOLDER Filed July 18, 1962 J /9 lac M 18 2 6.

INVENTOR. PAUL 5- .S'TEPHE'NS ATTOEMEY.

cording to the aesthetic tastes of the wearer.

3,135,967 HANDKERCHIEF HOLDER Paul B. Stephens, Chicago, Ill.

(731 Mill St, Mount Vernon, Ind.) Filed July 18, 1962, Ser. No. 210,662 Claims. (Cl. 2279) This invention relates to an improved handkerchief holder, and particularly a holder adapted to hold a full size handkerchief in proper position in the upper pocket of mens suit coats, waitresses uniforms, and other garments while the handkerchief is folded into the particular shape desired by the wearer.

In garments such as suit coats, waitresses uniforms, and the like, a breast pocket is provided. Frequently, a

handkerchief is folded neatly and inserted in the pocket in a preselected position for embellishing the garment ac- When the handkerchief is fresh and newly inserted, it serves the intended purpose, but due to the movement of the garment occasioned by changes in posture of the wearer, the handkerchief shifts from its original position and becomes unattractively misaligned with the pocket. It must be rearranged repeatedly or it not only does not embellish the garment, but actually detracts from its appearance, with resultant implications of a proclivity toward untidiness of the wearer.

Heretofore, holders have been provided to which handkerchiefs may be connected and the combination inserted into the pocket for the purpose of retaining the handkerchief more nearly in the desired position throughout the period of use. However, there are several objections to the prior holders. The most general objection is that they add bulk which mis-shapes the garment or forms pressure lines therein. Also, they are limited in length and are fixed in position relative to the handkerchief so that the handkerchief cannot be adjusted relative to the holder while the holder vw'th the handkerchief installed is in the pocket. Instead, the combination must be repeatedly withdrawn, the handkerchief and holder adjusted relative to each other, and reinserted in the pocket until the desired position of the handkerchief is obtained. In other holders, no adjustment of the handkerchief lengthwise of the holder can be made due to the fastening means provided.

Again, particularly in mens suits, the upper entrance portion of the pocket is narrower for a distance of from a half inch to an inch below the upper edge of the pocket than the portion of the pocket therebelow. Consequently, the prior holders, which are of uniform width, do not filt the pocket properly for holding the handkerchief in p ace.

In accordance with the present invention, a relatively simple holder is provided which is arranged to retain its position in the pocket even though the general width of the pocket is wider than the entrance portion. The holder is arranged to hold a handkerchief in different preselected positions of the handkerchief lengthwise of the holder. It is made to yieldably grip the handkerchief so that the handkerchief can be adjusted readily to the desired height after the holder and handkerchief combination are in a. pocket simply by holding down the holder with the thumb and working the handkerchief up or down relative thereto with the fingers into the adjusted position desired. The holder has an advantage in that the amount of tension or resistance to movement of the handkerchief lengthwise of the holder, which is lengthwise of the pocket, can be adjusted readily.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the holder of the present invention with a handkerchief installed thereon, and the combination in position in the breast pocket of a mans coat, a fragment of the coat and the pocket being shown in section for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 2 is a right end elevation of the handkerchief and holder shown in FIG. 1, the pocket being omitted for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the holder;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the holder;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the holder taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation of the holder, similar to FIG. 4, showing the holding means for the handkerchief adjusted for tension.

Referring to the drawings, the holder and handkerchief combination is shown in FIG. 1 installed in a breast pocket l such as is customary in mens coats. Generally, such pockets have a relatively narrow entrance portion 2 at their upper end, this portion extending from about onehalf to one inch from the upper edge 3 of the pocket. The inner lining is sewed on a bias, as indicated at 4, so as to slope downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the entrance portion until it merges with the adjacent side of the wider lower portion of the pocket 5. The pocket is of the normal depth and has a bottom, as indicated at 6. In order to hold a handkerchief 7 neatly folded and in proper position in the pocket 1, a holder 9 embodying the present invention is provided.

The holder is in the form of a card 10 of self supporting and somewhat stiff but resilient sheet material, such as a thin sheet of synthetic organic plastic, celluloid, and the like. The card 10 preferably is approximately rectangular in outline except that it is provided with lateral ears 11 which are coplanar with the sheet and extend outwardly from the lateral edges of the card a fraction of an inch; for example, one half inch.

The card has a shortened upper portion 12 which is above the upper edge of the cars 11, the lower limit of which is indicated by the line xx. It has a longer lower portion 13 below the lower'edge of the ears 11, the upper boundary of which is indicated by the line y-y. The card has a central portion 14 which lies between the lines x-x and yy. Generally, the upper portion 12 is such that it extends from the lower end near to the upper end of the entrance portion 2 of the pocket While the upper edges of the ears 11 lie just beneath the lower end of the entrance portion where the inner lining is biased, as at 4. The lower portion 13 of the card is sufiiciently long to extend close to the bottom of a conventional pocket. The cars have trim lines 15 so that they can be readily cut to the width required for the particular pocket. Likewise, the lower portion 13 has trim lines 16 so that it can be cut to the desired height by trimming off part of the material. Thus, the card can fit into pockets of diiferent widths and depths throughout a wide range of pocket sizes which are customary on garments from waitresses uniforms to mens suit coats.

The handkerchief, after being folded to the shape desired, is mounted detachably on the front face of the card 10 with its upper edge standing above the upper edge of the card portion 12 approximately the amount that the handkerchief is to extend out of the pocket. In order to hold the handkerchief adjustably on the front face of the card, rubber bands 17 and 18 extend transversely of the card and are spaced from each other lengthwise of the card, and completely encircle the card. This is so that they do not buckle the relatively thin sheet material of which the card is composed when they hold the handkerchief sufiiciently snugly against the face of the card so that it remains in position endwise relative to the card under normal wearing conditions. this purpose, the band 17 is arranged with its front portion 17a extending across the front face at the edges of the ears adjacent their juncture with the portion 12, and thus he along line x-x. Correspondingly, at the front face, band 18 is arranged with its front portion 18a extending along line yy. Generally, the bands extend parallel to the upper and lower edges of the card. At

the rear of the card, however, the bands slope away from the respective end portions 12 and 13 toward the transverse center of the card, as indicated at'1'7b and 18!). They have rear portions 170 and 18c which are between their bias portions and lie in face to face relation to the rear face of the card. At their inner ends, the portions the rubber bands 17 and 18 at their points of engage- For substantial width at their bases ment therewith. This pinching action is such that the,

portions 17a and 18a of the bands can be stretched and drawn relatively tightly against the handkerchief for exerting greater pressure thereon, the excess length and looseness resulting being accumulated in the portions 17c and 180 between the tongues, thus regulating the pressure with which the handkerchief is held pressed against thefront face of the card. Due to the position of the tongues relative to the upper and lower edges of the ears, the portions 17b and 18b pull the ends of the portions 17a and 18a toward the portion 14 of the card and thereby hold the portions 17a and 18a firmly at the juncture of the ears with the edges of the portions 12 and 13. These junctures thus provide restraining shoulders for preventing the portions 17aand 18a of the'rubsential for proper holding and maintenance of. the handkerchief in'alignment with the card; Furthen'zi n subthe position of the handkerchief during the manipulation. I

Regardless of the adjusted position of the handkerchief lengthwise along the card, it will remain in the proper position relative thereto and be retained in'proper position relative to the pocket.

The holder can be nsedwith any type of handkerchief. If desired, the handkerchief may be installed on thecard by leaving itpartially unfolded and passing the lower end around to' the back of the card and'beneathithe bands at the back, or it may be left loose at the back,'

depending upon the pocket to hold it in place.

In view of the position of the tongues, the bands are alwaysheld so that the portions 17a and 18a. r'einain in Ifthe handkerchief is pulled upwardly by move-r V ment'of the garment without movement of the handker place.

chief relative to the portions 17a and 184;, but by flexure and stretching thereof, the portions 17a and 18a permit the handkerchief ,to move slightly under stresses imposed by the movement of the garment, but restore it to it's original position as the garment resumes its position.

On the other hand, by applying sufiicient force on the handkerchief with the fingers, while holding the card with the thumb, the handkerchief can be made to slip relativeto the portions 17a and 18a and thus canbe 'ad-, justed to the position desired while the assembly is in the pocket and readily observable. j l

It is found that in the operation two bandsjarecsstantially all cases the wide ears are desirable and necessary. Again the adjustment afforded by the pinching .of the rubber bands by the tongues at the rear face. of

the holder afford an adjustment so that the holder can the wearer and the material of which the handkerchief j is composed.

of relatively thinself supporting sheet material of gem erally rectangular outline, said card having a front face,

her band from movement toward each other endwise of the card.

With this arrangement, the handkerchief, folded as ment movement urges the handkerchief to move it toward;

either end of the card, the band portions 17a and 13d and 17b and 18b stretch and move resiliently until the external force is relieved, whereupon the bands pull the handkerchief back to its original position. However,

with increase force as deliberately applied by the fingersof the wearer, the handkerchief can be pulled sufliciently ears having upper lateral edges joining withtheflateral', Any slack is taken out at the por Having thusdescrib'ed my invention, Iclaimt 1. A holder for handkerchiefs and comprisinga card a rear face, an upperportion, a midpor'tion, and a lower,

portion, lateral edges extending from one end ofthe card to the other, the vmidportion of. the sheet; being wider than the upper and'lower portions andproviding edges of the upper portion atan abrupt angle'ahd with lower lateral edges joiningfthe lateral edges of'the'lower if portion at an abrupt angle, said card having at its rear face upper tongues and lower tongues, said upper tongues hard so that it slips beneath the bands, thus afiording ad justment endwise relative to the card. v

In operation, with the folded handkerchief resiliently pressed against the forward face of the card in the approximate position desired, the tension band portions 17a and 18a are properly adjusted. The assemblage of card and handkerchief is slid into the pocket with the handkerchief forward, the card being bowed transversely to permit the ears 11 to pass below the bottom of the entrance portion 20f the pocket. leased and is in proper position in the pocket due to the engagement of the ears with the edges of the pocket near the inner end of the entrance portion 2. The card retains its upright position. In this position, the wearer] The cardis then 'rea having their junctures with the card spaced downwardly from the junctures of said upper lateral edges'with the edges of the upper portion, and said. upper tonguesgextending from their junctur es downwardly, said lower tongues having their junctures with the ,card spaced upwardly from the junctures of said lowerlateral" edges with the lateraledges of the lower portion, and said lower tongues extending upwardly from their junctures, upper and lower rubber bands encircling the card, the upper' band extending straight across the card at the front face of the'card at thejunctures of the upper edges of the ears with the upper portion of the card, respectively, the f 1 lower band extending straight across the c'ard at the front face of the card at the juncture of the lower edges of the ears with theedgesof the lower portion of the the rear face of the card and the upper tongues, the

lower band: at the rear face of the card sloping from'i the lower portion upwardly and' in wardly transversely of the card and passing between the rear face of the card; 1 and the lowertongues, and each band being pinched bc tween its associated tongues and the card at the junc ture of its associated tongues and card.

2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said tongues are resilient and normally resist movement away from the plane of the card, wherebyeach rubber band can be tensioned between the tongue and the card at the juncture of its associated tongues with the card and held with the tension of the bands at one face of the card different from the tension of that portion of the band which extends between its two associated tongues.

3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein the tongues of each set are spaced apart so that the outermost tongues are nearer the lateral edges of the sheet than the lateral mid-portion of the sheet.

4. A holder for a handkerchief and comprising a card of relatively thin, self-supporting, sheet material of generally rectangular outline and having a front face and a rear face, a set of upper restraining shoulders spaced from each other transversely of the card, a set of lower restraining shoulders spaced from each other transversely of the card and spaced from the upper restraining shoulders endwise of the card, first tongue means on the rear face of the card and joined to the card at a location spaced in one direction endwise of the card from the upper restraining shoulders, said first tongue means extending from said location endwise of the card in a direction away from the upper shoulders, second tongue means on the rear face of the card and joined to the card at a location spaced in a direction endwise of the card from the lower restraining shoulders, said second tongue means extending endwise of the card in a direction away from the lower shoulders, rubber bands extending transversely of the card and encircling the card, one of the bands engaging the upper shoulders and passing between the rear face of the card and the first tongue means and another of the bands engaging the lower shoulders and passing between the rear face of the card and the second tongue means, the upper restraining shoulders facing in a direction away from the direction in which the first tongue means extends and the lower restraining shoulders facing in a direction away from the direction in which the second tongue means extends.

5. A holder according to claim 4, wherein each tongue means comprises at least two laterally resilient tongues which normally resist movement rearwardly in a direction away from the plane of the card so that each rubber band can be pinched between the rear face of the card and its associated tongues at the juncture of its associated tongues with the card and the portion of the band at the front of the card is maintained under tension independently of the condition of the portion of the band which extends between its associated tongues.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 205,704 Waite July 2, 1878 2,511,242 Brown June 13, 1950 2,716,755 Foglio Sept. 6, 1955 2,842,878 McFadden et al. July 15, 1958 2,851,693 Gottlieb Sept. 16, 1958 2,882,627 Gilbert Apr. 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 271,732 Great Britain June 2, 1927 

4. A HOLDER FOR A HANDKERCHIEF AND COMPRISING A CARD OF RELATIVELY THIN, SELF-SUPPORTING, SHEET MATERIAL OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OUTLINE AND HAVING A FRONT FACE AND A REAR FACE, A SET OF UPPER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TRANSVERSELY OF THE CARD, A SET OF LOWER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TRANSVERSELY OF THE CARD AND SPACED FROM THE UPPER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS ENDWISE OF THE CARD, FIRST TONGUE MEANS ON THE REAR FACE OF THE CARD AND JOINED TO THE CARD AT A LOCATION SPACED IN ONE DIRECTION ENDWISE OF THE CARD FROM THE UPPER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS, SAID FIRST TONGUE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID LOCATION ENDWISE OF THE CARD IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE UPPER SHOULDERS, SECOND TONGUE MEANS ON THE REAR FACE OF THE CARD AND JOINED TO THE CARD AT A LOCATION SPACED IN A DIRECTION ENDWISE OF THE CARD FROM THE LOWER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS, SAID SECOND TONGUE MEANS EXTENDING ENDWISE OF THE CARD IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE LOWER SHOULDERS, RUBBER BANDS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE CARD AND ENCIRCLING THE CARD, ONE OF THE BANDS ENGAGING THE UPPER SHOULDERS AND PASSING BETWEEN THE REAR FACE OF THE CARD AND THE FIRST TONGUE MEANS AND ANOTHER OF THE BANDS ENGAGING THE LOWER SHOULDERS AND PASSING BETWEEN THE REAR FACE OF THE CARD AND THE SECOND TONGUE MEANS, THE UPPER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS FACING IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE FIRST TONGUE MEANS EXTENDS AND THE LOWER RESTRAINING SHOULDERS FACING IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE SECOND TONGUE MEANS EXTENDS. 